Law professors provide expert insight for Vick case

As the Michael Vick dog-fighting saga captured the
attention of the nation, two professors from William and Mary’s School
of Law provided some of the country’s top media outlets with expert
insight into the legal proceedings that recently landed the suspended
Atlanta Falcons quarterback a 23-month prison term.

Linda Malone and Paul Marcus, both experts in criminal law, have been
among the media’s top legal sources and have been quoted in local,
national and international press stories about the case since Vick was
indicted in July.

In the last week alone, Malone was quoted in the Washington Post and
the Associated Press, as well as front-page stories in the Richmond
Times-Dispatch and Daily Press. The AP story ran across the world,
including The New York Times, Sport Illustrated online news site
(SI.com), MSNBC.com and the International Herald Tribune. A recent
Google news search revealed more than 90 news outlets where the stories
had run in the past few days.

Malone, the Marshall-Wythe Foundation Professor of Law and Director of
the Human Rights and National Security Law Program, commented on Vick’s
Dec. 10 sentencing in a Washington Post article, saying that Vick got a
tougher sentence than what was first expected because prosecutors and
the judge believed he had violated the terms of his plea agreement.

“They obviously didn’t feel that he was fully forthcoming and cooperative,” she said in the article.

Malone has been so heavily quoted on the case that her name came up
even as The Sandy Post, a small newspaper from Sandy, Ore., did a
Google search for their town mayor, who shares Malone’s name. In an
article about the search, the College’s Linda Malone was noted as
someone whom the nation’s media sought “to provide educated commentary
regarding the legal woes of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.”

“I enjoy and benefit from talking to reporters about high profile cases
and issues, in addition to seeing it as something of a public service
responsibility,” said Malone. “The best reporters often have important
behind-the-scene information which they can share that add to my own
understanding of the issues.”

She’s not alone in coverage. Marcus, Haynes Professor of Law and Kelly
Professor of Teaching Excellence, has also been heavily sought after
for insight on the case. Earlier this year, Marcus’ comments about the
case were featured in a story in the L.A. Times, among other
publications

“I have spoken to quite a number of reporters, several at considerable
length,” said Marcus. “Some of the interviews become part of published
stories; many do not -- they are used for ‘background.’ Many of the
contacts are from national organizations; some are purely local.”

The media blitz shouldn’t die down. Vick also faces state charges
related to the dog-fighting ring so expect this case to continue to
grab national attention. And through every legal twist and turn, expect
to see Marcus and Malone putting the case into context for readers and
continuing to provide media with insight.